Durkin wants to play multiple fronts and thinks they have the athletes to handle that

Greg Jackson is working more with the safeties and Mike Zordich is working more with the corners

Everyone has an opportunity to earn snaps based on what they do from spring on; how much a player played last season is irrelevant

It’s too early to tell if there’s a player who didn’t play much last season who’s going to get significant playing time this season or who the leaders of the defense will be

Durkin’s goal is to know what the defense is good at, what needs to be improved, and what they can handle schematically by the end of spring

Jabrill Peppers will be moved to several spots during spring to “find the best fit and the best mix for everyone”

What does a defense look like under you? Everybody wants to know with scheme, etc. What does it look like? What is a DJ Durkin defense?

“I’d say I want it to always be a blue-collar, competitive group. Play hard and compete for everything you get. Scheme-wise and all that, we’re a little different from game to game and a lot of it’s based on our personnel from year to year, too so we’re multiple with what we do schematically, but I just want a group of guys that are going to play hard, be blue-collar, and always compete for everything they do.”

How much can you tell after two days?

“We haven’t had pads on yet and that’s obviously a huge part of the game, so we’ll see. I’m reserving judgment for all that. Our guys have worked hard. I like their approach to the game, to practice- they’re locked in. I like their approach to meetings so I’m encouraged by all that and we’ll see as we get going with the pads on.” When you watch the film what stood out to you? Were there individuals that stood out in particular?

“The film from practice?”

The past, getting ready for this and I guess the last few days.

“Yeah, but what I want to do is make sure all these guys, and I told them this when we met with them, that they have a clean slate to start from. It was good. I came in and watched some games and tried to see where our needs were for recruiting, but in terms of one by one, individuals, I want guys to know that maybe you’re a guy who hasn’t played much- you have an opportunity to do that. Maybe you’re a guy that’s played a lot, but it’s not just going to be given to you- you have to go earn it. That way I think the whole room understands they have equal opportunity to go earn some snaps on the field.”

Is there anyone in particular that fits that bill of somebody who hasn’t played much that you’ve seen and been like, ‘Oh, I didn’t expect that. Maybe we have something here.’

“Yeah, I mean, it’s too early to tell that. I have been encouraged by a lot of guys. I think, like I said, I like our approach to practice and what we’re doing. I think the guys have a good energy and enthusiasm about it, so when we get the pads on and keep going I’m sure some of those guys will emerge.”

How long does it take you as a coach to figure out what you have?

“I don’t know. I’d like to say by the end of spring we can sit back and have a really good idea, ‘Okay, these are the things we’re good at. These are the things we need to keep working on. This is what we’re going to be talking schematically.’ That’s the goal, by the end of spring to have a lot of things answered. We’re going to go through and install quite a bit and a lot of stuff that I’ve done before and then, like I said, we’ll just sort it out and see what we’re best at.”

In-State Updates: Michigan Moving Up

While 2015 was a down year for prospects in the state of Michigan, 2016 boasts a solid crop of in-state recruits, and there's no question Jim Harbaugh has to work from behind for many of them; he's just getting to know players who've been recruited by the likes of Meyer and Dantonio for years, in some cases.

Visits over the last few days have spurred progress in that regard. In four-star Cass Tech OG/DT Michael Onwenu's case, so did a certain issue with a teammate, per Rivals' Josh Helmholdt ($):

"[My Ohio State interest] lowered a little after the (Mike Weber) incident," Onwenu said. "My position is they should have told him anyway. He had a bond with the coaches, and if I had a bond with a coach and was excited to play for that coach, that is something I should know."

Onwenu, who'd previously named the Buckeyes as his leader, now claims no favorites. He visited Michigan, which is one of a couple schools recruiting him for offense, last week.

Four-star Detroit King WR Donnie Corley also made it campus last week, and his father told Sam Webb that M is moving up his son's list ($):

Sam Webb: Before it seemed like Michigan was on the outside looking in. It seemed like Michigan was like fourth or fifth on his list. Do you think Michigan is more in the picture with him now?

Donnie Corley Sr.: “Yeah, most definitely. It was real impressive. We were real impressed with it.”

Three-star Farmington WR Desmond Fitzpatrick, who recently added a Michigan offer, was back on campus Tuesday for a practice and also plans to attend the Spring Game, according to Allen Trieu.

The father of four-star Plymouth OT Michael Jordan told Webb that the new staff is "very high" on his son, and he plans to camp at Michigan for a day this summer ($).

2017 Orchard Lake St. Mary's LB Josh Ross, younger brother of James Ross, told GBW's Kyle Bogenschutz that the new staff "definitely does" help Michigan's chances to land him ($). The coaches have re-affirmed Ross' offer from the previous staff.

Adidas released a group of alternate jerseys for the college hoops postseason today, including the uniforms Michigan will wear for both the Big Ten Tournament and, most likely, the NIT.

I'll withhold total judgment until I see these on an actual human, but they could be a lot worse, especially given adidas' standards. Remember, Michigan turned down that horrible zubaz concept a couple years ago. At least these have normal looking tops and understated shoes; the shorts would probably look pretty sharp if not for the whole two-tone thing, which is unfortunately the selling point of the uniforms.

Anyway, you'll see these on Michigan for the conference tourney and maybe a handful of postseason games, and then we'll all forget this ever happened.

Great Harbaughisms (Sayings)

If the Harbaugh family slogan doesn't become a Michigan Stadium call-and-response chant by the end of 2015, I'm disappointed in each and every one of you.

Alex Cook:

"Tom, we've talked about this before: at Thanksgiving, you sit at the kids table."

85% chance this has happened.

Adam Schnepp:

"I don't take vacations. I don't get sick. I don't observe major holidays. I'm a jackhammer."

If you're trying to distill the essence of the insanity of coaching (or Harbaugh) into four sentences I don't think you could do a better job than that. I think, however, that I found a caveat: Harbaugh said the first day of spring practice is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a birthday rolled into one. That would make the start of spring practice a major holiday to him, and he celebrates it; he just does so by going to work because of course he does.

Seth:

Thought of the day - What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! - Sir Walter Scott

The minute I saw that go out I was…well I was already enamored with Harbaugh, but this proved Michigan won't try to dull the edges of Harbaugh's approach to rivalries. Which is analogous to things you do with knives. #hasadeal

Weeks after this tweet I still run into Buckeyes who clench their legs together and cover the bits every time they think about how Michigan's head coach correctly labeled Ohio State's head coach a slime.

Also I like that he's always talking about how great a player's family is. I've read between the lines of enough recruiting battles to realize parents are Michigan's best allies, and every time he brings up Mom & Dad it's calculated to reinforce the program's most attractive attributes.

Also also "I just was really revved up!" in answer to the Jim Schwartz handshake incident.

Sione Houma had a procedure done and will be recovering over the spring. He’s expected to be back for summer conditioning and fall camp.

Khalid Hill and Drake Johnson are also injured and not participating in spring practices.

The first practice went well; Harbaugh thought the whole day was great “with a capital G.”

The coaching staff is still in the process of asking questions themselves; how to get better, what scheme fits the personnel, what players fit what position, etc.

Harbaugh said nothing has been determined as far as players switching positions, so take the initial depth chart with a massive grain of salt.

Harbaugh declined to comment on freshman ineligibility

Opening remarks:

“I have no opening statement. I wasn’t expecting a press conference. If anybody has any questions I’d be glad to attempt to answer them.”

How’d it go?

“Good. You know, it’s good to start. Feel like when you start you have- you can lay down a benchmark of where you are and it gives you a place to go forward from. It gives you a place to improve from [and] things to get better at.”

Talk about how you go about building competition in practice with some of the things you implement.

“Uh…some of the things we do to build competition? I mean, it’s football. It’s a very competitive sport.”

Are there things you do to encourage guys to…

“I’m sure there are. I’m sure there are. I don’t really have that list in front of me right now.”

You said you wanted to find out what their intent was in winter conditioning. Were you pleased with some of the results?

“Yes. Team’s in very good shape. Kevin Tolbert and his staff did a very nice job and the fellas did a nice job. You could see that throughout practice that the team’s in good condition and that gives us a fighting chance.”

Do you know how much of an install you want to do this spring versus just evaluating the guys and getting a feel for the team? Do you know how you’re going to balance that at this point?

“We’ll do both.”

How long is the evaluation process going to be?

“Daily. Every day there’ll be an evaluation process on every player in every drill. That’s on-going. That’s always.”

[After THE JUMP: the first day of spring practice, or New ThanksBirthMas]